History has been made this past spring sports season at Carle Place High School as both the girls' softball team and boys' baseball team won their respective Nassau County Class "C" Championships. The softball team, under the direction of head coach Chris Ceruti, earned a Conference IIID Championship, as well as the school's first county title in just its third year of varsity competition. The baseball team, under the direction of head coach Ralph Capozzi, earned a first place in Conference "C", its third county championship in the last four years, a Long Island and S.E. Regional Class "C" Championship, as well as its second trip to the New York State Championships in the last three years. Both head coaches would like to thank their JV and volunteer coaches, namely Jennifer Yannacone, Kelly Robertson and Debbie McDonnell for softball and John Schneidmuller and Jack Kearney for baseball. In addition, the loyal parents and fans who have also contributed to the success of both teams. Both the varsity softball (17-8-1) and baseball (20-6) combined for an outstanding 37-14-1 overall record. Both Ceruti and Capozzi were selected as Coaches-of-the-Year by their colleagues in the Nassau County Softball and Baseball Coaches Associations.

Softball		Baseball
Lauren D'Onofrio	All-County	Jim Sheridan
Jenn Whitley	All-County	Scott Martinoff
Kim Bruckner	All-Conference	Anthony Marasco
Kate McDonnell	All-Division	Dan Scanlon
Laura Mila	All-Division	Dan Curci
Natalie Vergata	All-Division	Mike Conlon (Honorable Mention)
Allison Holm	All-Division	Casey Twibell (Honorable Mention)

The overall success of both our varsity softball and varsity baseball teams was due to the overall contributions made by each player on these championship teams. The softball team will lose six outstanding players to graduation, including Co-Captain Laura Mila (CF), Kate McDonnell (LF), Cristin Morrissey (2B), Catherine Coppersmith (OF), Diane Diglio (1B), and Co-Captain Lauren D'Onofrio (P). The baseball team will graduate only three seniors but all exceptional players to include Steven Morea (SS), Dan Scanlon (RF), and Scott Martinoff (P).

The softball team played the most exciting game of the year, as they battled back in the rubber game of their Nassau County Championship game against East Rockaway. After trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs and no runners on base, the Frogs began the most important rally of their season. Jenn Whitley and Kim Bruckner hit back-to-back singles. Then Amy Casinover lined a long shot down the left-field line, collecting two huge RBIs and tying the game at 4-4. Then in the bottom of the eleventh, Jenn Whitley singled home Laura Mila with the winning run and the Frogs gained their first Section VIII "C" Championship. The team advanced to the Long Island Championship game against Eastport at Firemen's Field in Ridge but lost 6-3 on a very hot day which ended a very memorable season.

The baseball team also experienced some real excitement in the county playoffs against Cold Spring Harbor. In the deciding game three and with the series tied at one each, the Frogs hosted the Seahawks with the county championship up for grabs. Carle Place caught a huge break in the sixth inning when what would have been the winning run, failed to score as the runner heading home fell down. Before he could score the player who hit the single tied to stretch the hit into a double. He was tagged out just before the runner who had fallen rounding third base crossed home plate. The Frogs responded in the bottom of the eighth, as Mike Conlon singled home the winning run, earning another county championship.

Carle Place advanced to the Long Island championship game and outhit a very good Eastport team from Section XI (Suffolk), beating them 10-7 and earning a Long Island "C" championship. Once again, Dan Curci was huge at the plate, collecting five RBIs. Jim Sheridan pitched brilliantly in relief and shut the door on Eastport. The Frogs needed one huge win against Pine Plains (Section IX) to advance to Rome, New York and the Final Four. The Frogs earned a solid 4-2 win as Dan Curci pitched brilliantly, not allowing an earned run. The Frogs lost to Trumansburg 2-0 in the New York State Semi-Final game played in Rome. Senior Scott Martinoff pitched a solid game but the Frogs managed just three hits. With only three seniors graduating, the Frogs hope to gain another trip to the New York State Championships next spring.

Congratulations to both the softball and baseball teams for their outstanding championship seasons.